Game apparatus



Sept. v22,

DE LAMBERT GAIIArPA'nATus Filed O cf. 15,' 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @www1 ATTORNEY Sept. z2, 1925. 1,554,418A

l R. DE LAMBERT I GAMB APPARATUS Filed Oct. 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Shak` 2 u 5 INVENToR 7 aarfafLgmbe/' BY l ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

tan-ED 'smeg ROBERT DE LAMBERT, 0E MILL VALLEY, 'oALIEoENra GAME APPARATUS.

Application le'd October 16, 1923. Serial No. 668,857.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT DE LAMBERT, a citizen of the United Stat-es, residing at Mill Valley, inthe county of Marin and State 0f California, have inventeducertain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. Y

My invention relates to mechanical field games and more particularly to football games, and the invention consists of a mechanically operated device adapted to be placed upon a table or other convenient supportand operated from both ends bytwo opponents operating keyboards respectively, the keys of which in turn operating balli' projecting devices.

The invention broadly includes, a field, two oppositely disposed keyboards, and two sets of different colored ball-projecting devices representing football players arranged in the field like two contesting teams, each team being connected to its respective keyboard. Each set of said ball-projecting deA vices is provided with panels numbened from l to 11 connecting with keys likewisev numbered. The panels represent the football players of the game.

To start the game, the ball is placed in the center of the field and one of the opponents at his end of the field operates key numbered 2, thereby projecting the ball from the center of the field toward his opponents goal, and his opponent anticipates the spot where the ball may land on the field, and strikes a key on his keyboard'to operate the panel or player that will halt theball, ward it from the goal or project it toward his opponents goal or through it, and thus score a point in the game.

Therefore, briefly describing the character of the game as above, one of the objects of this invention is to construct a game ap paratns that will be simple in construction and operation and hence durable. Another object is the provision of a game that will be as interesting to onlookers as to the players themselves. Another object is kt0 construct a game which requires a certain amount of skill in the operation of the keyboards, thus bringing the mental faculties into play for judging which projectors may keepV the ball in the field and away from his opponents goal. A further object is to construct a game of the class described provided witli an enclosedifield which is preferball will notroll offr or away from the field Vof action but always toward it, and'thu'sy the ball will always be in a position adapted tobe engaged .by the projectors. f Other objects and advantages and the features of construction of theinvention, will appear in the subjoined description of the accompanying two sheetsof drawings, in which:n 1 j,

Figure l is a plan ofmy game showing the field, HoppOsitely disposed keyboards at the ends thereof, and projectors in the field in normal position ready for engagement-with ably concave transversely thereof, so that the the ball; the `latter is shown in the center of Y boards.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 1 showing the ball in action and an opponent striking a l,key anticipated to cause interference -as the ball lands.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan of a portion of the keyboard.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken uponv the line 7f7 of Fig. v6. Y

Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan of one of the key stampings. l Y

Fig..9 is an enlarged detail plan of one of theL projectors. 'Y f g Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken upon the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Fig. 1,1 in a general way designates a 'frame preferably constructed of wood and preferably rectangular in shape. Said frame is adapted to rest upon a. table or other support, and has a longitudinally extending concave plate 2 preferably of sheet metal securely nai-led or otherwise fastened or formed to the top of the frame '1, thereby forming a field 2. The corners of frame 1 are provided with clips 3, 4, 5 and 6 for -the reception of wire posts or uprights 7, 8, 9 and 10, which form cornerposts for supporting a fencingor netting 1l or the like, and which extends around these corner-posts and forms an enclosure for the lield 2a. Said fencing is preferably of wire strand formation, and is high enough to prevent tue ball from jumpall of them.v

ing oli' the field 2a.

The fencing 11 is piovided with end openings 13 and 19 above the keyboards 12 and 13 respectively. Said openings are formed by invertedv U-sliaped wires 2O and 21 which forni the goals at opposite ends of the field 2a.

vIeyb'oard'mechanisms 12 and 13 are attached to oppositeends 14 and 15 of the rectangular frame 1. Said keyboard is somewhat likethat of a typewriter keyboard, and the keys thereof are. numbered from 1 to 11. Number 1 key is positioned in the center and the even numbered keys are on one side thereof and the uneven on the other side asV shownv to advantage in Fig. 1.A rlhe number (1) key, 16 for instance, is centrally located as above stated Vand is connected to the nearest projector element 17, which is wider than the other `projectors in order to block the goal.

The keys of the keyboard mechanism 12 are connected individually with'half of the projectors inthe field 2a. Said keys are correspondingly colored and numbered to match the projectors or team to which they are attached, so that the operator will be able tov distinguish his men or projectors on the field. v Y 4 The keys upon the k-eyboard12 are numbered from 1 to- 11 as above stated, and the corresponding projectors to which they are attached are also numbered accordingly is the operation of all the keys and con'- nections therefrom to the projectors are similar, l will therefore describe but one complete key unit which will answer for Referring to the detailed Figs. 6 and 7 'the key mechanism 12 is-shown as the keys applearin normal position. rlhe key 16 is shown partially in section in F ig. 7 andis hingedly connected at 22 by the pintle 23 to the end plate 24 fastenedt'o the 'end piece le'. of the frame 1.A The pintle 23 extends from one endjof the keyboard 12 to the other, and hingedly connects all of the keys These clips are adapted to guide the movement of said keys.

A Wire or other flexible connector 29 eX- tends through an opening 30 in the end plate 2d, andY is secured tov the upwardly extending portion 24a f said key 16, and an opening 31 is formed in the end piece 14 soY that said flexible connector 29 may operate freely therethrough. The other end of said connector is attached to the lower end or shank of the projector 17 at. 1'71- F 10, and may pass through screw eyes 53 br the like, Fig. 2, for guiding and non-interference purposesl of the connectors 29 leading to their respective panel members 17a. Number 2` key is connected in a' similar manner withv the projector vnumbered 2, and number 3 key is connected in the saine manner with the projector numbered 3, and remaining keys are similarly connected with their respective projectors; Referring to Figs'. k9 and 10, one of the projectors and means for operating same is shownin its normal position upon the plate 2. Said projector preferably consists of a flat piece of sheet metal stamped out substantially in the form of a T: Ears 32 are formed upon the shank 33 thereof, and the said shank is perforated at its lb'w-er end for the pivo'tal securement thereto of one ofv the aforesaid ekible connectors 29; Openings 34 are punched in the plate 2, the punched metal thereof forming downwardlj/ extending ears said ears 35 and the ears formed upon Athe shank 33 Aare perforated in alignment for the reception of a pin 361; A piece of clockspring or the like 37 is positioned below the plate 2 and over the pin 36A and is crimped under the shank 33 for secuiem'entA thereto; the reaction of said spring causes -the 'panel 38 of the projector to assume itsv normal position down against the plate 2 after each key action. Thus, when one of the keys of the keyboard 12 is pressed downwardly as vshown in Fig. 5 the connector 29'pull's outwardly thereby swinging the projector' 17 upon the pin 36 to a nearly Vertical position. If the ball 39 be placed upon the plate 2 in front of the panel 38 and the key operated as above stated, the ball will be projected forwardly from said panel and the projector will return to its normal position immediately upon release of said key. The action of the ball is prepo'rtional to the finger-pressure applied to the key.

Referring to Fig. 5 I have shown in side elevation thev cli-jf) 3 with the 'corner-post in place therein. Said clip 'consisting'vof a piece of metal bent to form a rectangular housing 40. Said housing having an opening` 41 Vformed in one wall thereof. The corner-post 7 extends downwardly into'mthe housing l() and has the lowe'i' end tliref recurved as indicated at 42, thence outwardly and forming a pintle 43 for engagement with said opening 41 of the clip 3. l/Vhen it is desired to remove saidcornerpost, the pintle 43 `is pressed inwardly out of engagement with t-he opening 41, and an upward pull of the spring wire post releases it from the previous binding engagement within the clip.

The under side of the frame l is provided with corner buffers or the like 44, 45, 46 and 47 preferably constructed of soft rubber or some resilient material. Said buffers are attached to the corners of the frame to protect the table or other support upon which the frame is placed.

Fig. 3 illustrates a different form of end construction, and consists of an added end zone enclosure 48, for the checking of the ball as it passes through the end goal 18, directing the ball into one or the other of the sloping side pockets 50 and 51. Thel said slope begins at the longitudinal center line of the plate 2 as at 52. The only dif-4 ference in this construction is that I have provided a retarding and receiving means for the ball, instead of allowing it to pass on through the goal and perhaps to the floor.

Fig. 1 shows the ball in position to start the game, and when the said ball is projected toward either end of the field 2a, the operator at the end toward which the ball is projected will endeavor to operate the proper key and panel to stop said ball and return it toward his opponents goal and through it, and so on.

It is obvious from the foregoing that I have endeavored to produce a mechanical game intended to imitate as nearly as possible a football game, that is, I have oonstructed a field of the character described having projectors to represent two opposing teams. and it is my object to have the opposing players imitate the movement of the players in a football game. The main object being for the players to get the ball from their end of the field to the opposite end and through the goal in order to score points.

The plate 2 is concave transversely thereof so that the lowest part of the field lies longitudinally, so that the ball will have a tendency to return to this area and be always in place to be engaged by a projector, the latter being so spaced and the ball of such diameter that it will always be in the range of action of a projector.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that I have produced a mechanical game for grown people as well as for children, and is intended to develop skill in anticipating the next move of the opposing side and quick action on the part of the players to keep the ball in motion.

Having thus illustrated and described my `invention in its preferred form, I wish it understood that the same maybe modified as practice suggests. Therefore, the patent protectionthat I desire, 1s all of that which comes within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: Y

1. A football game apparatus comprising a frame, a plate mounted longitudinally in said frame and its entire surface concaved transversely thereof to form a field, said plate having a series of oppositely arranged superposed ball projectors hingedly mounted thereon, keyboard mechanisms mounted at opposite ends of said frame and means connecting said keyboards and projectors to raise and lower said projectors upon the operation of the keys of said keyboards, the keys Vbeing manually operable and spring returnable.

2. A game apparatus comprising a frame, a plate upon said frame, oppositely disposed sets of T-shaped ball projectors hingedly mounted in said plate to the underside thereof, a spring interposed between the hinge pin and the shank of the T-projector, keyboard mechanisms and means connecting said keyboard. mechanisms with respective sets of ball projectors, so that upon the depression of the keys said projectors will be swung forwardly upon their hinges, and upon the release of said keys said projectors will immediately return to normal position by the reaction of said spring.

3. A game apparatus comprising a fram- ,ing including a plate, a series of springactuated sheet-metal ball projectors hingedly mounted in said plate and adapted to normally rest thereupon, a series of actuating keys mounted upon said framing having wire connectors to said projectors, sothat when the keys are depressed the projectors will be raised against the actuating springs and when released will return to normal position.

4. AV game apparatus comprising a fraining including a plate, a series of projectors hingedly mounted in said plate and adapted to normally rest thereupon, actuating means for said projectors, the latter being stamped from sheet metal and having ball-engaging panels at their upper ends andshanks eX- tending downwardly therefrom and connected with said actuating means to raise and lower said panels.

5. In a ball game apparatus,a framing, goals near the opposite ends of the framing, and zone enclosures at the said opposite ends adjacent said goals, each of the said zones provided with a plurality of pockets for the reception of the ball after a goalpoint is scored.

6. A field game comprising a framing having a longitudinally concave top surionned 'by a fencing7 projectors 'spaced and a different projector, and each of .said keypivotaily iXed on Said top in predetermined boards adapted to be operated upon to `sepositions to represent two contesting teams, lect-Wely control any projector on its ie 10 each yteam of said Vprojectors being of :i spective team.

f different color for designation, and a key- In testimony whereof l MEX iny's-ignature.

board fixed to each end o f Said framing having each key thereof oper-ably r'connected yto ROBERT DE LAMBERT` 

